Mortal Secrets: Truth and Lies in the Age of AIDS Books In Print
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Mortal Secrets: Truth and Lies in the Age of AIDS

Johns Hopkins University Press, 2715 Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218-4363. ISBN 0-8018-7427-0. $42.00.
Robert Klitzman, Ronald Bayer. 2003

The fact that one may be HIV positive brings about the entire realm of secrecy, trust, and truth. Are those who are positive obligated to tell the world that they are positive or even their own circle of friends or family? Should you believe the individual that tells you he or she is negative and then proceed to have unprotected sex? Should one adhere to the "Code of the Condom" where it is understood that as long as you wear the condom during sex it does not make any difference whether or not each partner knows about his or her HIV status? All are interesting questions and all have that dark overriding thought of their being a mortal secret. "Since HIV transmission largely occurred in consensual relationships that lacked expectations of truth telling, each individual bore the responsibility to protect himself or herself. Those who failed to protect themselves had no moral claim against those who infected them." A bold statement to say the least.

This book draws from interviews of more than 70 gay men and women, intravenous drug users, sex workers, bisexual men, and heterosexual men and women. "The interviews convey the complex emotions of love, lust, longing, hope, despair, and fear that shape individual dilemmas about whether to disclose to deceive, or trust other concerning this disease." Some readily disclosed their status when known to everyone around them, others told no one, and still others struggled for a time to keep it secret and then told. Some hid the truth in diaries, which were later read by partners. The sad fact is that many of those who are infected feel that they will be rejected in society if they openly say they are positive, thus they live the secret life. This is an interesting book that social workers need to read so as to understand some of their clients concerns. A recommended book for all academic libraries.

Keywords: Prevention; Social Aspects; Self-Disclosure; Sexual BehaviorKWDprevention;socialaspects;self-disclosure;sexualbehavior
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